Health & Fitness Association

06/05/2026

If you've ever felt intimidated by advocacy or simply unsure of where to start or how to get involved, this episode of is for you.

This week's host, Tom Richards, sits down with Mike Stack — founder and CEO of Applied Fitness Solutions-Ann Arbor, President of the Physical Activity Alliance, Chair of Michigan Moves Coalition, and longtime HFA member — to tell us his story from fitness operator to nationally recognized advocate for physical activity and public health.

Get notified when this episode drops next week! 👉 https://bit.ly/4ujgLbo

Sponsored by Hapana

06/04/2026

Want to make a real impact on your local, state, and federal politics? Invite your elected officials to your facility!

On this episode of , Former Congresswoman Susan Molinari breaks down why inviting your elected officials to your facility — and making sure the local press shows up — is one of the most effective advocacy moves an operator can make.

Full episode available now wherever you get your podcasts!

🎧 HFA Pod: Inside the Advocacy Equation



HFA Pod is sponsored by

06/03/2026

We're thrilled to welcome six brands into the fold as new members of the Health & Fitness Association!

Join us in celebrating Premium Pilates and Fitness, Designed Hospitality, Swymfit, Fitizens Holdings, Performance Food Centers, and Renu Therapy as our newest club and industry partner members 👏

06/02/2026

GLP-1 medications are reshaping the conversation around obesity care, and the fitness industry has a real opportunity to be part of the solution.

As these medications grow in use, patients face challenges that healthcare alone can't address: muscle loss, the need for structured movement, and long-term lifestyle support. Fitness professionals are uniquely positioned to fill that gap.

This September in London, the HFA European Congress is bringing together leaders from fitness, medicine, and public health to align around this moment — including the release of new HFA research on combining GLP-1 treatment with structured exercise.

What role do you think the fitness industry should play? 👇

06/02/2026

Have you seen it yet?

The first episode of , our rebranded podcast, went live last week!

Drawing on her time in Congress, former US Rep. Susan Molinari gives a look behind the curtain about how to truly leave an impression on policymakers.

🎙️ Watch it now:

In this episode of HFA Pod, HFA Chief of Staff Mike Goscinski speaks with former US Rep. Susan Molinari (R-NJ) about what truly influences policymaking. Draw...

06/01/2026

May was an absolute whirlwind for fitness advocacy!

Here's what HFA was up to this Physical Fitness and Sports Month:

👟We hosted an advocacy fly-in in Sacramento, where attendees did an Orangetheory Fitness workout with Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin and had a day of legislative education with Assemblymember Mia Bonta, Assemblyman David Tangipa, and Assemblyman Heath Flora
🎤 Our Senior Manager of State Affairs, Cassie Losey, spoke at Michigan Moves Coalition day at the Capitol, where they collectively urged legislators to adopt the Michigan Physical Activity Plan
📢 With HFA's advocacy, 16 states across the country officially declared May Physical Activity Month
🚴 HFA staff members participated in the Congressional Physical Activity Challenge, getting active with everything from cycling to weightlifting and walking their dogs

Shout out to our partners, advocates, and lawmakers for their dedication to advancing health and wellness initiatives!

05/29/2026

Former Congresswoman Susan Molinari is the first guest on our rebranded podcast, now called HFA Pod!

In this episode, she's pulling back the curtain on what REALLY happens when fitness leaders walk into a meeting on Capitol Hill. And spoiler: the nerves should be on THEIR side, not yours.

In this clip, she breaks down exactly why members of Congress value these face-to-face meetings and what grassroots advocacy actually means for their careers.

If you've ever felt intimidated by advocacy work or aren't sure where to get started, this one's for you.

🎧 The full episode — "Inside the Advocacy Equation" — covers the insider mechanics of advocacy, why trade association voices matter, and how YOU can show up with confidence as an advocate for your business and your community.

Available now wherever you get your podcasts!

Sponsored by

05/26/2026

The HFA European Congress is headed to London this year!

The fitness industry has a real opportunity to shape public health, influence policy, and change lives at scale — but only if it moves together.

The HFA European Congress (brought to you proudly in partnership with Get ukactive is where that alignment happens, bringing global leaders together to sharpen advocacy efforts, amplify collective impact, and turn shared insights into coordinated action.

If you believe physical activity needs to be integrated into our healthcare systems, then the Congress is where you need to be.

🗓️ September 24–26
📍 London Stadium
🤝 Join us: https://hubs.ly/Q04hT6V50

05/21/2026

We've been at work behind the scenes to bring you something fresh 👀

Next week, our podcast is returning with a brand new name, format, and feel!

With a rotating host each episode, a different voice from HFA's network will sit down with executives, researchers, and policymakers from around the world to get the insider perspectives on the decisions shaping the health & fitness industry.

First up: A former United States Congresswoman!

Get notified when it goes live: https://bit.ly/4ujgLbo

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05/20/2026

This week, HFA held an Advocacy Fly-In in Sacramento, uniting the fitness industry behind a single voice at California's capitol!

We came with a clear agenda: modernizing cold spa regulations (AB 2330), lifting an outdated membership price cap (AB 2402), making employer fitness benefits tax-free (AB 2533), and pushing for commonsense PAGA reform.

Grateful for the legislators who showed up for this industry and the Californian members HFA serves — thank you, Assemblymember Mia Bonta, Assemblymember David Tangipa, and Assemblymember Heath Flora 👏

Physical activity is healthcare, and our advocacy this week showed up to prove it.